PINEHURST, N.C. — There were moments during Friday’s second round of the U.S. Open when you expected Mount Hatton on Pinehurst’s No. 2 course to erupt.
Tyrrell Hatton had just unleashed a laser-like approach shot at the flag on the par-four 13th hole when the ball dented into the grass at the edge of the cup, spun off the knobby green and into a bunker.
Hatton, one of the most versatile (dare we say mercurial) players in golf, came close to making eagle two on this hole, but instead finished with bogey five.
And listen, he didn’t throw or break any clubs, he didn’t yell expletives at himself or even yell at his caddie.
Instead, Hatton calmly moved on to the next hole and continued with his round.
It was as big an upset as world number one Scottie Scheffler’s near miss on Friday.
Hatton finished the first 36 holes at 1 under par and was in a strong position heading into Saturday’s third round. “I don’t think being 1 over par in the U.S. Open is the end of the world,” Hatton said afterward.
He started the third round on Saturday well, with a birdie on the second hole and an eagle on the fifth hole and suddenly he was 4 under par and within one stroke of the leader.
But the day didn’t end the way he hoped. Hatton bounced back for an even-par 70 to stay at one under par. He will enter Sunday’s final round six strokes behind leader Bryson DeChambeau.
The way Hatton navigated the rollercoaster that is the U.S. Open was remarkable and gave the impression that he was close to winning these tournaments.
“It wasn’t a good day on the greens,” Hatton said after Saturday’s round. “As it stands, it’s a little disappointing. [six] I’ll resume my shots tomorrow. … I know anything can happen, especially on this golf course.
“I wish I could wake up with the same golf swing I had today because I’m really happy with the way I hit the golf ball. It’s a tough ask. Stranger things can happen.”
Like Hatton’s newfound composure in the middle of a fight.
“I think it was just how I handled it mentally throughout the day. I definitely had some bad shots and maybe I lost my cool a little more at different times and played a little tougher,” he said. “I felt like I stayed in my spots, I was in a good frame of mind and I played some good golf.”
The humorous Hatton comes to the U.S. Open with a fascinating psychological strategy that he believes may work to his advantage.
“Maybe it’s better for someone like me who is constantly on edge if other people are a little more on edge,” Hutton joked last week. [the U.S. open] If it gets harder, a lot of guys will go crazy and they’ll be on the same level as me, because I’m going crazy every week.
“They get to experience what it’s like inside my head for a week.”
That sounds like a Disney thrill ride.
But Hutton reasoned that “some guys can get frustrated,” adding, “I’ve always been good at showing how I feel. I’m not afraid to let my emotions out. This week I’ve just been trying to be a little more lenient with myself at times so I don’t let my emotions out too much.”
The way Hatton describes his famous temper, it sounds like he’s nearly losing it while yelling on the course.
“Half the things I say on the golf course I don’t even know where they come from,” he said. “Sometimes, [think]You think, “Oh, I shouldn’t have said that,” and you cringe a little bit, but that’s just a reaction. It’s not like you’re thinking, “I hit a bad shot, so I’m going to go all out.” It just comes out of your mouth.
“I don’t know where it comes from, but some people might find it funny. Others might not find it funny.”
Hatton’s volatile on-course demeanor can sometimes distract from his successes: he is ranked 20th in the world, has played in three Ryder Cups, finished in the top 10 in all four majors and won the Arnold Palmer Invitational.
“I feel like I’ve proven to myself that I can compete with the best players in the world,” he said. “I know that if I play the golf I’m capable of, opportunities will come my way. The biggest thing for me is just getting out of my way, not getting too frustrated and accepting certain shots and not letting them carry over to the next one.”
It’s easy to say, but hard to do.
